Can CalWORKs WTW requirements be met with fully online school? Or must it be on-campus?

Yes, CalWORKs absolutely accepts online education for your WTW plan! I completed my entire medical assistant program online last year while on Cash Aid. The key is getting your education plan approved BEFORE you start. You'll need to fill out a WTW 2 form (Activity Agreement) and have your worker approve your Self-Initiated Program (SIP). Make sure your online program leads to employment - that's what they care about most. Medical billing is perfect since it's in-demand. Just make sure you also request childcare assistance through CalWORKs since you'll need study time too!

Thank you SO much! This is exactly what I needed to hear. Did you have to provide any specific documentation from the school to prove it was a legit program? And did you have any issues with them counting your study hours toward your required WTW hours?

idk my sister tried to do online classes and her worker said no had to be in person this was last year tho. maybe depends on ur county?

It definitely shouldn't depend on the county since this is a state-wide program, but sometimes individual workers don't know all the rules. The official CalWORKs guidelines allow for online education as long as it's from an accredited institution and leads to employment. If someone tells you otherwise, ask to speak with a supervisor or file for a state hearing.

I'm doing online classes right now for my CalWORKs WTW plan!!! But let me tell you it was NOT easy to get approved!! My first worker said no way, then I got a new worker who said yes but only if I also did 10 hours of job search ON TOP OF school which was ridiculous. I fought back and showed them the policy that says education can count for ALL your required hours if it's approved. FINALLY got it sorted but took like 3 months of back and forth and almost missed my enrollment period. Don't give up!!!!

This is unfortunately very common. The CalWORKs regulations clearly state that online education from accredited institutions qualifies for WTW hours, but many workers aren't properly trained on this. Education can satisfy your full participation requirement if it's at least 32/35 hours per week (including supervised study time). If you're having trouble, I recommend using Claimyr.com to get through to a supervisor quickly - I used their service to connect with a CalWORKs office after being on hold for hours. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/jzISHxCPLwE that shows how it works. Definitely worth it when you're facing enrollment deadlines.

my wife did an online certificate for medical coding and CalWORKs covered it 100%. they even paid for her laptop and internet because it was required for school. but she had to submit her transcript every semester to prove she was passing her classes. also make sure u get the childcare assistance thru CalWORKs because that was actually more valuable than the Cash Aid tbh

They paid for a laptop?! My worker never mentioned anything about that. I'm definitely going to ask about this because my laptop is super old and probably can't handle the software for medical billing courses. Did she have to request this specifically or was it automatic?

The CalWORKs system is SO inconsistent it drives me CRAZY!!! I've been fighting with them for 6 MONTHS about my online classes. First they said yes, then no, then maybe, then they lost my paperwork TWICE!!! Now they're saying I need some special form from the school proving it's

Same thing happened to my cousin! She just gave up and got a minimum wage job instead. So sad because she really wanted to finish her degree. The whole system is broken.

i think it depends on what ur studying too. my friend was trying to do like general ed classes online and they said no but when she switched to CNA program they approved it. they want u to study something that gets u a job quick

This is a really important point. CalWORKs is much more likely to approve vocational training programs (like medical billing, CNA, welding, etc.) than general education. They want to see a clear path to employment. If you're doing online education, make sure it's something with good job prospects that can be completed relatively quickly. Medical billing is a great choice because there's high demand and you can finish in less than a year.

When I was on CalWORKs last summer I wanted to do all online classes but my worker told me I had to do atleast some in-person classes so I ended up having to do this hybrid program. But I wonder if that was just her making up rules? Sounds like other people got approved for fully online so maybe my worker was just being difficult?

That's what I'm worried about! Seems like different workers have different rules. Did you ever try to challenge what your worker said or ask for the official policy in writing?

I want to clear up some confusion here. According to official CalWORKs policy, online education DOES qualify for WTW hours if it meets these criteria:1. It's from an accredited institution2. It leads to employment (vocational training is preferred)3. You can document your participation (attendance, grades, etc.)4. You get it approved as part of your WTW planIf your worker tells you otherwise, ask them to show you the policy in writing. You can also request a different worker or speak to a supervisor if needed. Don't let misinformation prevent you from pursuing education!

Thank you for spelling this out so clearly! I'm going to print this list and bring it with me to my next appointment. I really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences. It's frustrating that the rules seem to be applied so inconsistently, but at least now I know what to fight for!

I just wanted to add that when I did my online program through CalWORKs, they also required me to submit a "verification of enrollment" form every month showing I was still actively participating. My school's registrar office helped me with this - they knew exactly what CalWORKs needed because they work with WTW students regularly. Also, don't forget that if your program requires any textbooks or materials, CalWORKs can reimburse those costs too! I saved all my receipts and got reimbursed for about $400 in books and supplies. The medical billing field is definitely growing so you're making a smart choice. Just make sure to get everything in writing before you start classes!

I'm so glad you asked this question because I went through the exact same uncertainty last year! CalWORKs absolutely DOES accept fully online programs - I completed an online medical coding certificate while on Cash Aid and it counted for all my WTW hours. The key is making sure your program is from an accredited institution and leads to clear employment opportunities, which medical billing definitely does. What really helped me get approved was presenting it as a cost-saving measure for CalWORKs - no childcare or transportation expenses needed! I brought documentation showing the school's accreditation, job placement rates, and local salary data for medical billers (around $18-22/hour starting in most areas). My worker was initially hesitant but approved everything once she saw the official policy language. Make sure to request your approval in writing through a WTW Activity Agreement before you enroll. Also ask about supportive services - they covered my laptop, software, and even upgraded my internet since it was required for school. Medical billing is perfect because most positions are remote now, giving you flexibility with your kids after graduation. Don't let anyone tell you online doesn't count - the state regulations clearly support it! If you need help getting through to speak with a supervisor quickly, I've heard good things about services like Claimyr that can help you bypass long hold times. You've got this - stay persistent and document everything!